June 17, 2010
Before the elections it was all about peace, love and togetherness. Speaking at Aranguez on May 22 Kamla Persad-Bissesar intoned “As we reach the end of this campaign, I want to thank everyone in and out of Trinidad and Tobago who has contributed to our efforts…Your efforts have been historic because, for the first time in our nation’s history, you have put aside the divisions of our past in order to reach across and unite for a better future and a better way.”
Then came the glorious victory of May 24. Since then several of the People’s Partnership (PP) initiatives have been characterized by vindictiveness and intimidation. In three short weeks we have seen the direction in which PP’s rule is tending. We will hound them out of office; we will put the Integrity Commission on the defensive; we will reopen Landate so that Keith Rowley becomes intimidated and afraid to speak with his usual clarity and brilliance; we will give Ish Galberansigh and Steve Ferguson a little more time to evade their fates (they were arrested on Tuesday); we will see how best to persecute Louis Lee Sing further and thereby make Citadel Limited the poster child of PNM’s discrimination against Indians although the Maha Sabha received a radio license anyhow.
In the process we will unleash the power of the state against our opponents. We will employ (and thereby tie up) all the leading attorneys of the country so that they become clients of the state; hound office holders out of office and then dare them to take us to court where the cost of litigation will be so high that the average person will be unable to gain justice. Many will just walk quietly away to save their dignity as the attorney general’s friends and mentors entrench PP’s rule via the unrelenting power of law and propaganda.
In fact, the aim of this PP’s full-court press is to insure that PNM and its supporters never rise again. It is almost as though the removal of the PNM from the political scene is the necessary corollary to the entrenchment of the PP within the political culture. In furtherance of this objective the attorney general will use his office as another platform to pursue the cases he fought in his private lawyerly capacity on behalf of the Maha Sabha, his most visible client, and those to whom he felt the state had wronged.
Such a posture is in keeping with the ideological thrust of the PP. Even as Kamla spoke about the need for unity and a desire to reach across class and ethnic lines she could not help but depict blackness as a pathology within the body politic. In her way of thinking, African people are not normal persons pursuing their everyday lives and fulfilling their everyday needs. Rather they constitute a disruptive presence, living in disreputable enclaves that are plagued by a self-perpetuating pathology of joblessness, welfare dependency, teen-age pregnancies and a criminal mindset.
Two days before the election Kamla observed: “Anyone who has followed this campaign; anyone who has walked with us through Laventille; anyone who has come to a public meeting with us in San Fernando; anyone who has watched rally voters in Couva and in St. Joseph and San Juan; anyone who has followed our efforts in the newspapers, on TV, or online, can see the dedication and enthusiasm of the diverse interests who have come together for change in Trinidad and Tobago.”
One can infer from this statement that Kamla’s self appointed task is to transform Africans into healthy psychological beings as the necessary condition for solving the nation’s problems. Not only do we represent the nation’s pathological underbelly but hers is the task to administer the necessary cure.
Indians, on the other hand, are presumed to be exemplary citizens who by the dint of hard work have made enormous achievements in spite of the discriminatory practices to which they have been subjected. Freed from the psychical handicaps to which Africans have been subjected, Kamla has nothing to ask of them since, in local parlance “dey business fix.” Africans only have to follow the Indian example to cure themselves of the various social pathologies that have inundated their being.
One continues to look in vain to see the demands the PP asks of Indians as we seek to heal the “divisions of our past” and “reach across” the chasm of the present to find a better future. Yet the question remains, how does the PP intend to cure the social pathologies that exist in Laventille, St. Joseph, San Fernando, Tobago and San Juan that prevent these citizens from realizing their potential in this proposed utopia?
If the challenge is one of the economic rather than the psychical conditioning of a people how does the PP intend to restructure the national economy to create those well-paying jobs (which may just be at the root of their problems) to move them from the margins to the center of the society so they can live healthy and meaningful lives.
The majority of people who voted against the PNM (and for the PP) are not prepared to see the state used to subvert a democracy that took us fifty years to build. When they decided to look past race and ethnicity to vote for the PP they did so because they believe that a better future is possible. They did not intend to give carte blanche to the PP to use the race card against their fallen opponents. While the supporters of the PDD, DLP, ULF, UNC never moved beyond their ethnic enclave to vote for no one but their own, African people moved beyond their parochial interests to vote in the national interest.
Many of us will look to see how the PP uses the state apparatuses to advance their narrow parochial agenda. They may go aggressively after Rowley even as they give Ish and Steve some slack. Nonetheless, how they deal with the nation’s pathology as they defined it by inference will constitute the most revelatory moment in their journey. As we await the answer, we look to see what the Indians are asked to contribute towards the unity of the nation and the construction of a better day?
I hope they are asked to be eternally vigilant. To speak out against PP missteps as they did against PNM mistakes. There were no internal criticisms of Volney decisions or fears of Jack in the treasury expressed on the election platform; though I’m sure they must have felt some misgivings.
These twinges are your conscience!Put country before party or tribe for all our sakes.
Straight talk by Dr. Cudjoe: incisive, broadgauged and fearless analysis.
A much more tempered commentary; remember that Africans every where have never been afraid to risk their lives for justice; and in truth T’n’T is where it is and Indo-Trinis enjoy this present privilege of leadership mainly because African-Trinidadians risked their lives to obtain it.
What lives did African risk for Justice??? Over 1 million African men are in U.S. prisons. Dr. Cudjoe will do well to address the “absent father” in Afro Caribbean homes instead of consistently engaging in this useless diatribe.
There are more White (European American) men in prison than African Americans in the U.S. and there are more White (European American) people on welfare than African Americans. Let’s concentrate on Trinidad and Tobago.
Check out every other union outside of sugar workers…check the history of these two islands.
Sorry Curtis, that previous reply was meant for Khem on the issue of risk taking in the interest of justice. What I would like my brothers of the smoother hair texture to understand here is that Kamla as PM represents ME an Afro Trini woman of integrity who has raised Afro Trini sons of integrity (with their father).
I would like them to be as fearless in their criticisms of HER DECISIONS and those of her cabinet ministers when they depart the route of ethics, transparency and progress.
Let’s be vigilant so we, regardless of race, don’t all get creamed in the political embrace that graces this front cover trinidadexpress.com
Too much criticism could result in the government becoming insensitive, so you have to temper your criticism with your own action. That means being an advocate for your community. Do what you can in your own sphere to improve the lives of those whom you touch. Like letting your children know you love them and reminding them of my hero Martin Luther Kjng– “Judge not a man by the color of his skin but by the content of his character”. But this is a time to pause for reflection because in 6 short months the nation has changed and we need to leave aside the politic of division and think what this means for TT future. Will we hold on to the past or embrace the future??? I am sure you are thinking, and I hope that you will embrace the future.
Khem, You can be assured that I was one who helped to bring about this change and as such I am one who understands how fragile and underdeveloped it is. The PP is riding on a tide of love and appreciation, they also need to sleep and awake to the gravity of the RESPONSIBILITY with which they have been bestowed. Change has to occur within the parameters of best practice. The traditional UNC core and the traditional PNM core are the corners that this new change broom has not yet reached.They are the ones who must now come on board to ensure that the PP isn’t cutting corners and wasting resources and ensuring that we have a STRONG OPPOSITION (it is a strong opposition that checked the last spendthrift regime)Peace and Love Khem
Mr. Cudjoe, the PNM has become the African’s worst enemy. While you long for the return of the PNM, I wish that they stay dead to give this new government a chance to rebuild we country. As a person who grew up behind the bridge I can attest to the neglect by the Eric Williams and Manning PNM. Mr. Chambers did not last that long to do any more damage. All the things that PNM and its followers want to do now should have been 30 years ago. While you may have your fears of Indians in power, I fail to see what that meant to the Baptist and the steelband movement, when PNM refused to build a school for the Baptist and a carnival center for seteelbands.
Yes, we breathe a sigh of relief from the grasp of the PNM. The loss of the PNM is giving Africans a chance to exhale. For too long Manning and his PNM has satifled the initiative and work ethic that Africans had. PNM killed the work ethic among the Africans. PNM has moved away from its main supporters from Laventille, Morvant and other depressed areas. PNM became the party of the Syrians/Lebanese, French Creole, Chinese and other businessmen who benefited from PNM largesse.
PNM FAILED TO EMPOWER AFRICANS. THAT IS PNM’S GREATEST SIN AGAINST AFRICANS.We will give this government a chance to rebuild our communities. We will give labor a chance to correct the wrongs of an uncaring PNM government who wasted our natural resources on buildings while the nation thirsted for water. While our young African men were killing one another, PNM gave us excuses with incompetency as a national ministry of security. SHAME ON PNM FOR THE WRATH THEY FOSTERED ON AFRICANS.
wilsibo: “PNM FAILED TO EMPOWER AFRICANS. THAT IS PNM’S GREATEST SIN AGAINST AFRICANS.We will give this government a chance to rebuild our communities. We will give labor a chance to correct the wrongs of an uncaring PNM government who wasted our natural resources on buildings while the nation thirsted for water. While our young African men were killing one another, PNM gave us excuses with incompetency as a national ministry of security. SHAME ON PNM FOR THE WRATH THEY FOSTERED ON AFRICANS.”
Could you imagine this information was in one of our main newspapers and the PNM government never launched an investigation into this ‘alleged’ Drug Cartel link of Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.
The Express
Darryl Heeralal and Darren Bahaw
Wednesday, November 30th 2005 :
“The indictment also charges that a series of complex financial transactions were used to hide the origin of fraudulently obtained money paid to Calmaquip by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
US investigators allegedly made the discoveries during a counter-narcotics investigation involving a Colombian drug cartel headed by the Dillevgas family.”
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/read/3363
I see you have much concern for your African brethren. One could only imagine how these ‘alleged’ Drug Lords have had a direct impact on crime in the African community. But as a concerned citizen, I know you will not let this present government make such mistakes…Ent?
Mr. Cudjoe does not believe the PNM failed at anything, in fact he believes that the PNM is the best thing to happen to T&T. The reason is quite simple Cudjoe believes in the African ideology. How can he not. His literary diet has been Farrahkhan, Malcolm X, Elijah Mohammed, Idi Amin Dada, Marcus Gavey, Mugabe…. All leaders of black consciousness. So in his mind anything black is good…. Which is a sad place to be in life….
Mr. Selwyn Cudjoe, what a nasty piece. Why are you so Bitter, Is it because your PNM lost the Elections, for that you bad mouthed the PP and all people of indian origin. Please…. Mr Cudjoe grow up.
no what you have to do is look at the facts that’ before you, what Cudjoe said is absolutely right. They want to reinvestigate something that was already investigate, but Ratlogan is looking for a way to give Ish and them a pass. But I would say this, afro trinidadian getting every thing they deserve, they wanted to give people who hate a chance, a chance to do what f them a little harder. Well guess what that’s exactly what the are doing. Now like fools they have to rely on “god”. Cudjoe is right that the indians will vote for any party but the PNM, even though the prospered under the PNM. Lets see how much of them dotish afro trinis are going to prosper under this dispicable racist regime
Whilst there are those who do not want to hear a word of criticism about this new government, we must be cognisant of the awareness that was paid towards the behaviour of the then PNM government against it’s citizens and how it used it’s powers to persecute individuals and groups alike. To turn our backs now and and not be vigilant about those who now occupy those said offices would be a derilection of duty and observance, especially when our government is composed of so many different groups. On the surface this government operate from many levels. It’s composition of personnel appears fair, fluid and representativwe of the population of T&T, the Cabinet and parliamentary representatives are equally well shared which leaves little room for criticism. However, at another level we see a tendency to be heavy-handed in its attempted goals to prosecute those who were tried and found innocent and want to free (or protect) those whom the law has time and again ruled must be extradicted to the US to face REAL JUSTICE. We hear rantings from almost every ministry except Works, Health an the PM’s officem, of the need to prosecute the former government for one thing or another, all of this without presenting EVIDENCE. We see the elevation of provocateurs such as Sat and Devant who are in a hurry to help in all this prosecutory shenanigans.
This is a lame article. I am afraid that Cudjoe is losing his racist African edge. For me that is not good, because I always enjoy his satire. I like to know what my tribal family is thinking, I like my hate right out there in front of me. If he keeps this up I am afraid we will lose one of our great African minds, a man who dreams in black. Anyways, I am hoping that he was just having a bad day when he wrote this mindless crap. Peace and love nonsense. Dissappointed I am….
No Khem, This is classic, vintage Selwyn. The other Selwyn came to his senses. Cudjoe and his ilk are just tapping on the black playbook in the US and UK – the political, economic and sociological marginalization – using it conveniently (consertive whites fear that Obama will create a Welfare state). Why has the NEAP been silent the last few years? I expect more of the racist drivel and rantings from this Selwyn in the next few years. Look out for his ‘lectures’ in Woodford Square during the summer to stir up insurrection. Look, all of a sudden all Indians are racist. The PNM could not have been in power without the Indians for the last 40 years, particularly from the muslims, Presbyterians, liberal Indians, and Indian businessmen who wanted to maintain the status quo at the expense of their bretheren. Cudjoe and his ilk are stuck in the past with their backward, recalcitrant thinking.
I personally believe Ramjit that Cudjoe is an American spy. He spends most of his time at Howard Unversity and yet he is able to sit on the board of governor of the T&T top bank. Now I think the PP should keep him on for another 6 months and find out who his handlers are in the States. I suspect he has membership in Black Caucus and other leading black organisations which means he is working for those organisations. As for the Presbyterian and Muslim thing, that is past history. We all learn from it.
Thank you Mr. Gopaul, I dont think anyone could have put any better than that. Plain and simple “Sour Grapes”.
Mr. Cudjoe
Now is the time for you to get together with your benefactor party (PNM) who no doubt only propelled you to a high position because you represented their people, and do a sincere analysis of the last general elections. Remove your blinkers which centers on hatred and your gut feelings for the other party. Think about the real reasons why Manning fell from grace within two months (date he called election to date the new government was sworn in). You will learn quite a lot. You are supposed to be an intelligent person not prone to engage in ‘low dodge’, mischievous behavior and ‘rabble rousing’. It is opportune for you to zero-base, teach and lead the folks of your party on the way forward.
Do not leave everything to Rowley. The feeling is that he is already on the wrong course. Get ideas which will redound to the benefit of all in T&T. We need a useful and forward-looking alternative so T&T can become a first world country.
Codjoe is such a loser,,The pnm is africans worst enemy, just like mugabe , amin and others they pretend to be good africans but destroy african history with their own brand of history (mostly what they think up in their head).
Remember its the pnm that destroyed the black power in the 70″s
the same black men and women that were fighting for equality in trinidad, Manning made a joke of the african clothing that Daaga was wearing.
Ask yourself the question, who hae always embraced the african movement…The UNC did…
Never forget black people that if the pnm love you so much , why is it that all races in TnT are progressing ahead while africans gets to work in cepep.The pnm has been in power for more than two thirds of our history.
And yet it has never tryed to help blacks out of the poverty that so many seem to be in ..Always be vigilant of self imposed leaders like codjoe and rowley. They are only doing business for their well being,,look at who their friends are
How do you compare Mugabe to Cudjoe? Mugabe was trying to right a wrong. Cudjoe thinks that he is about to lose something that is his when in fact TNT does not and never did belong to him. It would be one thing if the indigenous people of this two island nation were protesting the election complaining about not having a voice etc…, but this is just ridiculous.
I am comfortable in saying that Manning doesn’t represent all Africans as Kamla does not represent all Indians. Hopefully, our elected officials will represent all of us or they will be looking as dazed and confused as Manning when Election Day returns.
I will say that this new administration has a responsibility to ease tensions and attack xenophobia as best as possible.
This article was written as if Africans were helpless to straighten up and fly right whenever necessary. People of African decent are a capable people as our history tells us, so why the fear to stand up on our own two feet to walk into the future vexes me. People who want something will get something. Usually the put the hard work and sacrifice in to obtain it, but everything worth having takes hard work.
Let’s stop acting like African people cannot survive without the special attention that government may provide.
Africans only need to get away from BET and back to good old discipline that was taught in the good ole days to as Cudjoe put it,” cure themselves of the various social pathologies that have inundated their being”. Our grandparents wouldn’t have put up with a quarter of the behavior that goes on in our communities so why do we? Were they wrong? If so, why did they enjoy a better quality of life? I’m not taking sides, but I see a bias that does not represent all people of African decent. Everyone in society has a responsibility to make society better. We cannot always depend on government.
As they say,” There is nothing to fear than fear itself”. If this Administration doesn’t represent all of TNT then All of TNT will vote them out. First let’s give them a chance.
Well Uncle Cudjoe, as my loving Granny would say , “ah rather you than me,” doctor. Looks like dem guys driving on this here bloggerspheric highway,’eh biting nice,’ as they have you against a wall as it were , and they are pointing some ah dem loaded Israeli Uzis ,9mm Glocks /Smith & Wessons, and AK47s ,that slipped into our country ,via the containers of a few local unscrupulous business entities , of differing (wink , wink)stripes ,over the decades, that our dedicated Customs officials ,could not detect.
They are correct , you do appear -on cyber paper, at least – to be a disgruntled ,ex PNM party hack , PPP hater,who is more concerned that your government appointed lofty board position , at the Central Bank , and Gods knows what else that was given , at the behest of the past regime , might be about to run it’s course, and end, once the PM swears in.Smart move Penelope , you smelled the rat on that proffered Ambassadorial position, by Patrick Machiavelli Manning, just before he jump the political gallows. Now today you look energized , like a shining rose to be part of the new conscience of the people led by Uncle Rot , aka de Mason Hall kid- sorry Diego. These are desperate time.
I agree in principle with the guys , in the spirit of fair play ,you got to give this new PM ,and her government a bit of breathing room, as she try to put her policies in place. She has a mandate from the people if you recalled, and must be allowed some semblance of time ,as opposed to unending scrutiny, second guessing ,during her globally accepted political honeymoon period of at least 100 to 120 days.
I feel your pain doctor. You see , folks like my self would not loose any ounce of sleep if Ms . Manning and Ms. Panday never see their respective spouses again,as it looks from the abundance of overwhelming , cogent , evidence, these guys have been found wanting, with their hands in the economic cookie jar. Therefore if the new government wants to castrate Manning , then force him to swim daily in shark infested waters , from Charara prison grounds to some unknown spot, in search for daily food, due to the fact that he allowed 5 billion to be misappropriated, or stolen in during his lengthy political reign , then I am fine with that.
Should they choose to let an ugly ‘6 ft. 11inches,’ sex starved 35 year sentenced prisoner, use his cat – o -nine tail, and heavens know what daily, on the former PM’s cell mate Mr Panday,then bath him with boiling salt water ,laced with his favorite Vat 19 rum , since he only committed a crime to the tune of 500 million in four years of power , I could live with that , in the interest of equal justice.
What did you say, that won’t be allowed to happen as too many other heads would roll as well? You not listening , Doctor. I do not care if we have to go to Mars to find politicians to replace the government and the Opposition as a result of this.
Seriously Doctor Cudjoe, do you know why I take this tough position ? Unlike you , I have absolutely no allegiance to any of these characters, or their respective governments,as neither did a positive thing for me , and any of my family. The first rule of thumb when it comes to driving on this information highway doctor, is to always ,be an objective , equal opportunity attacker.
To make yours truly case even more unique is the fact that likewise , I do not expect , or desire anything from the new regime that is now ruling the roost as well. My sole concern is for the 1.3 million or more of my fellow citizens. Let’s wish them all well-government , and people alike. Remember doctor ,to continue to love country, over tribe.Tell Dr Rowley , that we hope for his sake , that he has no cocoa in the sun, as he knows what would eventually happen , especially as it’s rainy season , once again, hmmm?
Dr. Cujoe obviously has not learnt anything from the results of this election, or maybe he has. And because he has, he continues in his rubbish and like Sat Maharaj he would use this race issue to mislead his kind. These evil men are of no influence to a more educated population, who looks past their racist rhetoric and will elect leaders that can develop all of the people of this country.
Sat & Cudjoe cut from the same cloth. Cudjoe is feverent about ethnicity, Sat is feverent about Hinduism. Let us hope we don’t have any more of these two in the future but now is their time to shine, the world is before them to confuse, corrupt and control…. Our Republic allows them the opportunity to “dingolay” (wild dance)….
you’re right about that, soon they will be no more, lets really hope that no more are groomed. this continues to devide our people
Dr Cujoe seems to be looking in the mirror and reflexting on what he would have done if he happen to be an Indian. It is apparently scaring him. His arlicle shows that he sees everything in terms of race and nepotism. I actually feel sorry for him.
Beware Doc,there are some like you in every race, but only some.
what we see in a situation is always a reflection of ourselves Remember that, cowards die many times before their death and fear knocks on your door faith opens the door and lo! there is no one there.
Dr. Cudjoe is right on the money as usual, it never fails to amuse me that the geezers in this country ho cry about race the most are the most racial people I have ever seen in my life…
I have looked at the comments and instead of engaging in constructive debate about what Dr Cudjoe said i.e disecting his views ans either bringing facts or arguments to refute what he said they chose to attack him personally, not very mature or intellectual I would say..
As for Ish and Steve Ferguson, no matter what they do, no matter what gymnastics they and the AG try to perform, they have to go to the US and serve long jail sentences, they cannot buy their way out as they can here,like that surgeon who murdered his poor ex wife!!!
I hope the Afro Trinidadians in this country realise they are in for a long rough ride as we have already caught Winston Dookeran flat out lying about the true state of the economy, the use of the police to break down Afro Trinidadian squatters homes in Cashew Gardens whilst leaving the Indians squatters homes alone under the guise that the Indians were there before, what utter bullocks is that!!!!!
As a second year law student, I am amazed that our AG who holds himself out to be some type of big boy authority on Constitutional Law had to go for assistance(and waste money) on interpreting simple pieces of legislation in determining if Jack Warner (another black man who seems to hate his own kind and wish he was an Indian),could hold another paying position elsewhere whilst being a Cabinet member,well there are many aids to statutory interpretation that he could have used i.e the literal rule, the golden rule and purposive rule to interpret the legislation, what did he do, he paid some so called experts to interpret it in their favour..what a crock..lol..
Well guess what, those are legal opinions and not binding law, Keith Rowley should challenge this all the way up to the Privy Council and I am betting he will win, as we are suppose to be following the Westminster system of Government which requires all Ministers to act with the highest standards of integrity..
This is a matter of convention and not law as the AG well knows(does he?), he is just rying to pull wool over our eyes when he sits there with that smug, silly smirk on his face and says well,
I have gotten advice from Three experts and they say that there is nothing worng with Jack holding the two positions simultaneously, well there is a little thing now called precedent so we now cannot prevent another Minister from having outside interests, thank you idiots for your foresight and forward thinking!!!
What is more alarming in this country now is the clear collusion of the press with this Government, the Law Association is in bed with the Government as are all the major religious leaders and the trade unions, this is a recipe for disaster as it looks like this government does not want any kind of dissent, well they have another thought coming…
I am part of a body of Afro Trinidadian Law students who are quietly massing to challenge this government at every turn, as we will not stand by quielty whilst the rights of the Afro Trinidadian are infringed and trampled upon.
I am for equal rights but it must not come at the expense of the Afro Trinidadian in this country, they can fool some of us some of the time, but they can`t fool all of us all the time..
I expect to be attacked by some of the tribalists on this forum, but I don`t care for I am a Lion of the tribe of Judah and I fear no man…
One Love,
KingofKings…
cojoe- these die hards with minds like steel warped at acertain angle is hard for them to straighten back to reality. there he goes again talking about blackness and africans and indians. you can bet he is still scared of one thing the ” white masters “. he still does not know what freedom is.
Peace and love should, must begin with loving the skin you’re in. That is essential. African originated Trini women must stop the fashion shows that reveal everything except a thin slice of their vaginal area. Our ancestors stood naked on the auction block so that we would progres this far? Indian-originated women must stop lightening their hair to pass for white, and wearing blue contact lenses to change eye colour as if they are all Gujerati women.They must stop the prostitution of themselves in the parks of Woodbrook close to Bunty’s and in the oil belt. We must close the Santa Maria Hotel for good.
All men- African, Indian, Chines and mixed go there to consort with possibly diseased women, then go home to take diseases to their wives and girlfrinds, while talking glibly about progress, and one love. We must begin by redefining our sense of beauty, dignity, self.
An Afro Centric school curriculum would inclue reading of the great African writers, both of modern times like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, as well as the Egyptian Nobel Laureate, whose name wil come to me as soon as I stop writing this, but also lesser writers like Bloke Modisane,Birago Diop and so on. Teachers MUST go outside the standard textbook and download material from the internet to enrich their students lives. Yes, Idi Amin and Mobuto Sese Seko existed, but we do not define Austria by the man who walled his daughter up in the basement for twenty-seven years and had seven children by her, while his dotish wife saw nothing wrong; we define Austria partly by the Vienna Boys Choir partly by Franz Liszt. The same is true for England. Shakespeare and the bloddy henchmen of Cromwell lived in the same place. In France, we have all the great impressionist paintins, great French literature, and the excesses of the French revolution which gave us the words Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
Anyone in my book who equates African ideas with Idi Amin Dada is an —hole . Why not research the great thinkers of Yorubaland? of ancient Mali and Songhai? Do those fools who ocmment negativly here on Africa know that Africans were reading and writing Arabic, in Mauritania(Which is where ancient Ghana was) five hundred years before Columbus came to the new world? Despite the attempts of the PNM to raise the level of thinking of my people, they are still wallowing in the filth that Europeans stuffed down our throats to justify the greatest raids and sales of humans in the history of the world.
Trinibagonians must stop displaying their idiocy for all to see. Take the Lion, king of beasts, he does not have a natural habitat anywhere outside of Africa, but is caged up in zoos in every “developed” country from Sweden to Australia. Same as the AFRICAN HUMAN, AS A MATTER OF FACT ONE GERMAN CITY TRIED RECENTLY TO CREATE AN AFRICAN VILLAGE IN A ZOO, AND INVITED SOME AFRICANS TO LIVE THERE SO PEOPLE COULD COME TO SEE THEM.The British museum had such a display at the beginning of the twentieth century.either of these “great Civilizations” saw anything wrong with that.
THIS IS WHY I WELCOME THE IDEA OF LAPTOPS FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL CHILD, SO THEIR MINDS WOULD NOT BE LIMITED BY BEING TRINIS ON A SMALL ISLAND, BUT THEY MAY WELL USE THEM TO GO SHOPPING AT AMERICAN BRAND NAME STORES, AND LOOK UP “GIRLIE” PICTURES, WASTING MORE TIME IN DESTRUCTIVE THINGS, INSTEAD OF EDUCATING THEMSELVES> TEACHERS WOULD FEAR STUDENTS WHO COULD VERIFY YOUR FACTS IN A SEOND<IF INTERNET ACCESS IS AVAILABLE.
Those who constantly question why I live abroad while claiming to be a trini, have no idea the volume of useful information one can get from having 24/7 internet access for $25.00 US a month. That's education!
Get one. Teach the greatness of Africa. African engineers built the pyramids at Giza, and in Nuba, yet some teachers in TnT would say African children cannot do math, at the same time, every idea that Dr. Stephan Gift puts out, is pooh poohed by some professor with an Indian name. Haters exist even in highest academia.
If love of country was to florish in the minds of our children. Rabindranath Tagore's work would be taught right alongside Soyinka,Shakespeare and Gabriela Mistral-the first woman of the Americas to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Our girls of both races and all mixturs need to have their minds and imaginations soar beyond the beauty contests and baby making that all the tribes seem to have designed for them.There is lie for women beyond what they now have. peace and Love could explore hose possibilities.
This is for Charmaine Brown and Indra Bissoon.
I prefer to teach the greatness of Trinidad. Why can’t our nobel laureate V.S. Niapaul be taught in our schools. Did you know Linda that little Trinidad produce such brillance. How many nations can boast about having someone win the nobel prize. Teach about the superhero in sports Brian Lara. How many nations can boast of cricketing excellence. Teach them about the Caroni labourers who built T&T’s economy prior to oil. Teach them about the pitch lake the 7th wonder of the world. Teach them about the labour movement in T&T Cipriani & Butler. Why waste time teaching them about Africa when they can learn these things from extra studies. Besides for you Linda Africa will always be the mother land and you can go and live there. For me Trinidad and Tobago is my pride and joy my fatherland. I encourage you please desist from the back to Africa mindset. Let us put our thought and energies into building sweet T&T…
This is the same old mumbo jumbo argument of African education and unity as the fix all solution without action to move to Africa. She is not alone. Many voice their desire at times for Trinidad and Tobago to be more like India or Guyana. Here is a newsflash: Trinidad and Tobago is not Africa or India! Marcus Garvey left the Caribbean along time ago. Anyone else with the back to somewhere else ideas should do the same. There is a cultural evolution taking place and we can contribute with our participation to embrace and mold it, or we can be overwhelmed by it without a merited voice stewing in our own unhappy, disgruntled rage and hate. I’m sure that most would choose unified progression and positivity over bitter loneliness entranced in dreams of running barefoot through the plains with a spear in hand and a bone through nose yelling at the top our lungs ,”Woogy Boogy”! I know that’s not exactly the idea that these pro African speechwriters want to portray, but I’m just having fun.
We are tired of it. Yes it is important to know where we are from, but that should not be te focus of our survival today. What is history is done; we have only now the present to make history. We cannot dwell on our divided histories as we move forward in the attempt to unify the nation.
As I contemplate wearing a dashiki with tree branch in hand, jumping around on one leg, spewing gibberish words such as woogy boogy, please know that I will be praying that we can get it together for the sake of country over tribe.
Damn right, you go bro… It is time be brake the back of the mother this and that ideology and embrace sweet T&T. One nation…united strong and certainly the jewel of the Caribbean….
Blah Blah Blah Curtis.. you get to wear the clown hat in the discussion today.. Now go to your room and watch this documentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx-0qPx-NE4
What were we suppose to learn from this that we didn’t already know and how is this relative to you or I now?
that’s because V. Niapual hate trinidad and tobago, that’s the only type of prominent indians that Trinidad and Tobago has produced. Those that use their experience living here to become famous, but when the succeed they give their ass to kiss. The problem with the indians born in trinidad and tobago is that they only “love” the country when ah indian is in charge. Let see if they show up for Independence Day this year in their numbers.
What economy did Caroni build? Caroni for its lifetime after colonial rule was subsidized by the Government of T’n’T. When the colonial powers left they found a cheaper way to satisfy their sweet tooth. So basically Caroni was a State Welfare Program similar to the relationship which exists currently between the U.S. and its farmers. Caroni should have been dismantled decades ago and the land sold to citizens who could afford; and were willing to cultivate alternative produce so that the peoples’ revenue from oil did not have to pay the same parasitic 1st world nations for food staples like rice and wheat. I get a good laugh when you ‘Johnny come lately Trinbagonians’ come here spouting your biased rhetoric when you don’t even have the facts; proving once and for always, the danger of a little knowledge.
Tell em King of Kings. It is about time a new educated Afro Tini body rise up and assume the leadership position that’s theirs for the taking. The legacy of African neo colonialist icons such as Eric Williams ,George Chambers , ANR Robinson , and Patrick Manning ,speaks for it self across the length and breath of this entire country from 1962 to present. Here once more is it, for those that were mentally comatose during the said period , or came into existence within the past 26 days.I’ll refer to it as the ‘era of missed opportunities.’ They choose to politically ride the backs , abuse black folks, take them for granted,conveniently discard them ,then when expedient- or as Bro Bob Marley said , their political backs are against the wall- reach out to them .(Hopefully Dr. Rowley aka Rot, de Mason Hall Kid is not going to take that baton and try to win the race to power.)
This situation was manifested from the poor Brazilian like Fevalas Mountains along the PNM dominated East West corridors, all the way to all of the historically neglected Tobago island ward, as well as other sections of our country.
As a matter of policy, each of these leaders choose to maintain power via political pandering to others ,as they bended over backwards to appease the various old money , and new immigrant fringe tribes, of this land, as well as the major tribal rival, in the well organized Indo community.
They unfortunately ,never understood their true roles as agents of liberation. It should have been to embrace political power , but likewise , move beyond pompous rhetorics,and adopt a more progressive agenda of social development for the tribe ,as fervently practiced by Indo Trinis ,so well through the decades. African were able to obtain political power just like say a South Africa, but never economic power , and so their people remains principally in the same ghastly state in both countries.
In our country , Indo Trinis, to their credit ,have capitalized on the undue advantages that were given to them by Massa England in the form of land as an asset, and though divided religiously themselves, yet it was still possible for them together with an untarnished culture, to mold , their offsprings ,in efforts to parlay that edge, into economic power. Some would say that they were smart to continually make demands
on those in power, while giving up very little as far as economic spoils. Others woulds say that when political power is obtained by them -as it is presently – they should do everything to solidify their economic stranglehold , and long term political dominance just like in Guyana.
Here is an old neo feminist phrase you and your growing disgruntled , and concerned movement can adopt – “the personal is political.” So rise up ye mighty people ,you like our young writer here are the byproducts of Kings and Queens. Get organize, speak to social and economic injustice,never be intimidated , into and silence ,through political correctness, fear, or some stupid , paltry ,political or economic crumbs, that would obviously be offered , by a conniving , savvy economic , com political elite.
In ending, I should remind you King of Kings, to remain politically engage, and work assiduously ,with other progressives where ever they can be found, as that is the prudent approach , as we try to propel our country forward along the part to sustainable development.
Now for those who naively believed that they could make a beautiful Trini omelet without breaking an egg, let me remind them that it ain’t happening here , and never did historically anywhere on earth. Love country , over tribe, my friends. Speaking about two countries that in terms of paralling Sweet T&Taka rainbow country , where can we find ourselves a Julius Malema that would have the cohones to stand up against revisionism , and the quest for social and economic equality for a people that have been neglected, by their past elite leaders ,and the national well entrenched economic leeching power, and lifetime cry babies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_GCnQ4o5hc
Your call King of Kings- either lead the way , or do the ground work aka ‘clear the ground for a an unwavering Trini Afrocentric , neo national agouti to run.’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72HV2UM_H0&feature=related
Feeling me ? NATION BUILDING AIN’T EASY FOLKS!
Khem, we are a dot on the map of the world.If Trinis really wanted to ruin our economy, all we have to do is come home, including Sir Trevor McDonald of the BBC, Sir Vidia Naipaul- the fake Brahmin, and all. Where the hell would you guys put us? Trinidad is a great place, but we have to produce citizens who can function everywhere. You know how many trins find successful work with the OAS, the World Bank and The UN? What do they know of Trinidad who only Trinidad know? Think about it.
I have read every book Naipaul wrote. Read A Bend In The River where he has his main character,Salim, a Muslim guy, on completion of sex with this white woman, turn around and spits in her vahgina.What contempt for women. I have seen nothing like that in anyone else’s liteature. And “B Wordsworth” shows his contempt for African people. I gave upon him after that(Bend in the River). Walcott was born in St. Lucia, but did most of his work in Trinidad. And St. Lucia is smallr than us and can claim Sir Arthur Lewis, Economis Laureate, long before Walcott(1992) and Naipaul(2001). A person who only knows Naipaul is not educated. he, an old boy of QRC got a wonderful free eductation in Trinidd, which he would not have gotten in any of the other Commonwealth Countries that are non-white.
Educate for the world, you end up with a better product. Local is too insular.Perhaps that is our current problem. We do not want to know about others? .
Linda:
Literature is simply that, you can go and find a hundred different things about Niapaul that does not match your world view. I think he was a bit too aloft but that is part of his contrived British afflictions. However, having read some of his work I can tell you that putting him down is what people like you who cannot write two pages do. Have you tried to take a boring story and make it interesting??? Literature is such a difficult collection of thoughts and satire that it can only take a genuis like Niapaul to perform this marriage. Putting the person aside and embracing the exposition of ideas is what should turn you on. When I read someone whose point of view is different from mines, I look for meaning rather than message.
Khem an other thoughtless hardhead would want to tellme how ducated they are. A chld’s sense of self has to do, partly, with the belief in the greatness of his/her people. African originated children in the new World need to know more than “we were slaves” when we teach them that alone, we boil the pot of anger.
I know. I taught an Afrocentric curriculum to African American inner-city childen in the uS, who have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, college professors, because they had othergreats to look up to, while their parents struggled to feed them. Some of these children’s parents did not have much education, but they could believe in great African kings and Queens of the past. History is important. Starting with the massacre at San Jose de Oruna, is inadequate.
I can also recite much of MacBeth by heart. Never found much use for it, though.
Linda:
It is good to know that you have sought to educate people in their history. However history can be a very subjective thing. I read West Indian history and found great contempt for the Spanish Conquistadors. They rape the natives and stole their lands, molested their children and spread all kinds of diseases. Now this is enough to make anyone mad. So even telling African children that their ancestors had to endure such subversion is psychologically traumatising. How do you teach something without it becoming personal???
How does that child go back to his home without feeling angry, upset and outraged? What do you do to temper such feelings? Can history really be redemptive???
Curtis, who is Buddica? She is a British queen who lived around 600-700, who is Zenobia of Paalmyra? She is a queen of Pesia from a long time ago. I used these to affirm in girls their own ability to lead. Hapshetshut, Pharoah of Egypt got her engineers to design ingenius sailing vessels that traded on the Red Sea, the Queen of the Nuba defeated the Phoroahs of Egypt so many times that she became a model for the Greek mythological figure Medusa. Her one eye was clsed because her people were fierce archers!All archers use one eye to take aim.
This is not “Back to Africa,” you sorry excuse for a thinker, it is using the greatness of women of the past to help today’s women see themselves as more than flesh in a beauty pgeant, or as a c— in the Santa Maria Hotel. This method has tried and true psychology to back it up. What interest could you guys have in keeping our young women down?”
I am afraid you guys sound like a bunch of know nothings. Does the new government have a vested interest in keeping young women of all races down, or just Afro Trinis. Oh, I forgot, the Minister of Education is the one whose briliant second wife, also a doctor was murdered by a hired killer, she being his second wife to have that happen.
Picture does not look good for educated girls, African or otherise.
Who said anything about “keeping anyone down”? On this father’s day, we should remember that responsible fathers can positively impact a woman’s life more than some historical mumbo jumbo from a time long gone. My comments were about a community taking the responsibility to find their own solutions rather than waiting on government handouts. As a Historian fixated on African Culture, one would think that you would agree that African people can rise from their own strength rather than some handout.
I support a hand up but not handouts. It’s time specifically for African Trinbagonian men to stand up and be men in their communities and stop letting these boys ruin standards of life. As a Nation it’s time for TNT to unify and move forward. You’re all Trinbagonians to me. Nobody going nowhere so what is all of the talk about this African, Indian stuff? Believe it or not, but it is almost like one African telling another that he or she is not African because of a small cultural disparity. I forgot, it happens all of the time in the United States. Who are we trying to impress?
bob marley sung
“…if you know your history you would know where you comming from, then you wouldn’t have to ask me who the hell i think i am …”
The infamous Dr Cudjoe must be an English professor. His article is highly critical and entirely subjective. He should refrain from political analysis because it is a skill which requires objectivity and scientific observation. He should stick with what he knows: literary analysis with the flagrant and irresponsible use of his imagination.
Can he describe or expand upon those PP “initiatives which have been characterized by vindictiveness and intimidation?”
Can he tell us who the PP has “hounded out of office?”
Can he elaborate on his charge that the Integrity Commission was “put on the defensive?” The fact is that the Integrity commission was reminded of its role as an impartial body and not an agent of the PNM.
Landate was rightfully re-opened since the matter was never settled after Rowley escaped because of a technicality. The “clarity and brilliance” of Rowley’s speech should be muffled by his guilty conscience.
Ish and Steve are presently in jail and the legal system is working. The legal process is running its course and the fates of these gentlemen will be determined by application of the laws of T&T.
Citadel Limited is the “poster child of PNM’s discrimination against Indians” since the Maha Sabha had to resort to legal action, all the way to the Privy Council to receive a radio license.
Is this man delusional? Does he not realize that the PNM has been in power for over fifty years?
Why did he not ask this question when the PNM was in government: “How does the PP intend to cure the social pathologies that exist in Laventille, St. Joseph, San Fernando, Tobago and San Juan that prevent these citizens from realizing their potential in this proposed utopia? Did the PNM not have a cure for these “social pathologies?”
Dr. Cudjoe, your article “contributes nothing towards the unity of the nation and the construction of a better day?”
The country needs to give the new government and the PM some room to govern and to fulfill their promises. The country also needs to allow the PNM the opportunity to rebuild and to create a credible Opposition, not a destructive opposing force which Panday engineered during the last parliamentary period.
It seems that Cudjoe is only interested in negative commentary from his safe enclave in the USA. The people have spoken and the people are always right. There is a genuine force for unity, cooperation and togetherness. Please do not interject hate, negativity and non-constructive criticism.
Also, it is common practice by new governments to replace political appointees on State boards and institutions, especially when they are unqualified, political hacks. This is a process which occurs all over the world.
The critical responses to Cudjoes piece actually corroborates the analysis he puts out. Indians on this blog are putting forth the exact perspective he describes. That Africans have now come to their senses by discarding a majority black political organization in favour of a majoriaty Indian political organization. This is the establishmentarian perspective when it comes to politics in T&T, and too many Africans are prone to ignore it because it is delivered with skinning teeths that are misinterpreted as smiles.
When Kangal was raging about discrimination against Indians they were applauidng him. No Cudjoe ponders that situation for Africans he is racist. You guys cannot hide your cultural predispositions regardless of how much you try.
One of the misconceptions perpetuated on this blog is that Africans discarded the PNM in large numbers during the last election.There is nothing further from the truth.The PNM received only 14000 fewer votes than they received in the last election and it could be deduced that included in this 14000 could be people of all races, not Africans only.So, to suggest that traditional PNM supporters abandoned their party in favor of an Indian dominated coalition is profoundly false.The result could simply be an expression of the Indian majority in T&T, supported by the swing voters.The suggestion that the coalition is Indian dominated is also provocative.Sure, the PM is Indian, but a closer examination of the new government would reveal a number of powerful African advovates who are not going to “skin their teeth” and permit any unfair practices.Some people are not convinced that T&T is no Guyana.
King of Kings the African Guyanese population in Trinidad and Tobago, more than anything else, will need the services of brave and intellectual Africans to prevent them becoming what African Guyanese have become in their country. A population group where the Indian led regime along with the majority of its Indian supporters argues that it was legal and right for two Indians to lead lynching gangs into the African Guyanese community to kidnap, torture and kill those they determined were engaged in criminalty. You see the same trend of thinking emerging in this blog. That African Trinis should disassociate themselves from themselves and allow Indians to determine for them and save them. And any questioning of that proposition is termed racist. In other words, it is racist to challenge Indian racist thinking. Man you guys make even David Duke sound like a piker.
That is a pretty good perspective, but back to this African thing so popular in TNT now, where in Africa are they from? What Tribe or nation do they come from? I’m trying to figure out this disassociation thing, but something about being of African descent and being African as two different identities encourages me to question the loyalty question.
Perhaps the people to whom you claim are “disassociating themselves from themselves” actually realize that they are Trinbagonians of African decent trying to vote for what is best for the country.
Keep in mind that nobody would even be talking about this if the PNM had done its job.
The slave mentality permeating the country is responsible for this thought of Indians taking over. In reality, the PNM gave the election to Kamla. Can anyone else see that? If the PNM was doing what was best for the country as a whole and able to explain their actions, then they would still be in power. It’s time to power the people and if it doesn’t happen now it will happen later.
Race politics are dead if not dying. Everybody wants to rise. Don’t hate Indians; hate the man and the party that making you feel xenophobic for giving the election away. Never make excuses for failures. Remove them and try not to make the same mistakes as you move forward.
Right now, we all have to wait and see. At some point you have to stop crying over spilled milk and take control of your life.
Race politics is dead…I agree with you wholeheartedly. Look at cross sectional support given to the PP. The PNM is a post colonial era party, the PP is a 21st century party. Whom would you support? PNM ideas of ethnic domination similar to Forbes Burnham ideas are toxic for T&T. Guyana has NEVER recovered from the Burnham experiment. T&T must never again accept a party that promotes ethnic ideology….
It is disappointing to reflect on the opinions, name calling and generalizations frequently echoed by people like Ruel Daniels.They seem to waste so much time internalizing and agonizing over race and racial issues, that they must be continuously emotionally exhausted.
The fact is that people of African ancestry have excelled in every field of endeavour in T&T and the world, and are firmly entrenched in the culture and administration of T&T.This is not going to change. The culture of T&T has largely been shaped by people of African ancestry and accepted by all of the peoples of T&T.This is also not going to change.The Hindus of T&T have always flexed their muscles and so they should, since for decades they have had to struggle for rights.This is what groups who do, especially when they perceive themselves to be victims of discrimination.
The strong advocacy by people like Cudjoe is not negative if they seek to strike a balance in their quest for fairness.The problem begins when both groups stubbornly demand some sort of dominance and when governments in “power” seek to distribute unfairly and illegally.
The PNM showed us that the way to treat everyone equal is by ignoring everyone the same. Why would anyone defend that?
Hey Khem and Curtis grammar is important. No matter how all- is -one, loving etc etc we become, the the English language uses “break” to mean something different from “brake” And ‘to you” is always followed by “and me” and not and I.Now, typos are excusable because I am still sensitive to the possibility of the entire piece being erased if you spend too much time on it, going over and correcting; but the structures of the Englsh language are standard for future citizens of the world. You’d have never made it past Sir Trevor McDonald.
but the structures of the Englsh language are standard for future citizens of the world.–Linda
Language has change, cool aint cool anymore (lol). Ebonics, along with all the changes in communication has taken the E out of English. Have you notice how the youths communicate today. It is good to know that you are a defender of the King’s English….. We need more like you.
Grammar is important. It’s so important that most U.S. children don’t know the eight parts of speech. Evidently you could understand what was being communicated. That’s really what matters in this day and age. It is a fact that English is not as important as it once was in the United States. You should know you Texan.
Curtis, I live in Texas. Whereer I go people respect me as educated, because I speak the language- the LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE, the language of International Air Traffic Control, the language of prescription medications. A businessman friend of mine, whom I once taught in TnT asked me to write a piece on why women ned to learn to read. He is committed to giing them an even chance, but reading is importat in his business as one has to follow specific directions. This, in TnT. In addition to joyfuly writing the piece for him, I pointed out that women often poison their children by substituting a tablespoon for a teaspoon. Doctors now universally say x many drops, and the dropper comes with the medicine bottle. Overdoses are still common, because if the doropper has a bit left in, well we mights as well…
my degree in English is from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, I am so proud of that. I tell people I am an Eric Williams Scholar. We understood language, economics-The Unit Trust was founded by some classmates- nd we understood higher thinking skills. Eubonics has been discredited by the AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS A TOOL DEVISED BY OTHERS, TO KEEP THEM BACK, THE WAY THE BRITS TAUGHT BOTH INDIANS IN INDIA AND AFRICANS IN AFRICA “PIDGIN ENGLISH” SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT MASTER READING IN STANDARD ENGLISH. IF ALL TRINIS COULD REALIZE WHAT A TRICK IS PLAYED ON DIALECT SPEAKERS, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SPEAK WELL, EVEN THOUGH THEIR PALATES MIGHT FIND IT HARD.
“why women ned to learn to read. He is committed to giing them an even chance, but reading is importat in his business as one has to follow specific directions.” –Linda
The word Linda is “need” not ned, is that your Texas twang.(lol). Other corrects giving instead of “giing”, important instead of “importat” Please use spell check next time.
NO, A COUNSELLEE OF MINE CAME BY becuse a relative of his had died. I had to either post as is, or delete and redo. I choose the former knowing that one of you would jump on it. For the level of English that I normally write, please borrow from any TnT Library if you are located there Coin of Gold, by Linda E Edwards, published in 2001, and or The Sun, The Snow, The Sea by Linda E. Edwards, pub. in 2004. I should warn you that the latter is a quarter of a million words long. Also check any of the essays I have published in the local papers, and in The Daily Herald in Ste Maartin, NA.
The library may also have a recording of my Poetry Reading there from April 29, 2010.Satisfied? Typos and grammatical mis-constructions are nt the same, my dear.Having witnessed some recent teaching in TnT, I try to write in a way that teachers could use my pieces, even notes that I e-mail them, as teaching tools, and some of them do.